Press



F 1943- F. A. BRANDES 2,310,890

- PREss v Filed Dec. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. JEANK 14. flaws/05s BY w M0 9 14% ATTORNEYj Feb. 9, 1943.

F. A. BRANDES PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1941 QIINVENTOR. fTPA/YK 4. BER/V0.55

BY I I v 4 MW 5% Feb. 9, 1943. F. A. BRANDES PRESS I Filed Dec. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l ll]ll I n In H Y Hen/1K A. BEA/V055 M W 2; 1M

ATTORNEYS V Feb. 9, 1943. F. BRAND-ES PRESS Filqd Dec. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I II Ill INVENTOR.

III H III gap/K 2; Beam 0E5 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS Frank A. Brandes, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application December 16, 1941, Serial No. 423,200

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to power punch presses designed primarily for forming articles from sheet metal or other sheet material by the use of tools, such as punches and dies. More particularly, the present invention relates to floor-type power punch presses of the character referred to, wherein the upper part of the frame forms a table for supporting one of the tool members, such as a die, while the other tool member, such as a punch, is carried by an upper cross-head connected to a lower cross-head located within the frame near the base of the machine, guided by ways on the inside of the frame and moved vertically by a horizontal crankshaft passing through the frame.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel floor-type power punch press, of the character referred to, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, and light in weight, but so designed that no strain whatsoever will be placed upon the upper cross-head except a direct vertical pull, with the result that the life of the tools will be increased as they will be perfectly aligned at all times.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel floor-type power punch press, of the character referred to, having a table of conventional height but having longer ways inside the frame for guiding the lower cross-head than prior presses of this character, whereby the accuracy and life of the press are increased without increasing the height of the tool supporting surface or table.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel floor-type power punch press, of the character referred to, comprising improved adjusting means for the wearing parts, whereby adjustments to compensate for wear and the like can be readily made without causing the various parts of the machine to be thrown out of alignment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel floor-type power punch press, of the character referred to, having ways inside the frame for guiding the lower cross-head, which ways are located to the sides of the crankshaft and extend above the lower edge of the concentric part thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel floor-type power punch press, of the character referred to, having improved means for counterbalancing the weight of the cross-head assembly, thus increasing the accuracy and the life of the press.

The invention resides in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a floor-type power punch press embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View with portions shown in elevation approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view with portions shown in elevation approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View approximately on the line 5-4; of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the machine shown therein comprises a generally rectangularlyshaped frame A adapted to be supported on a floor, the upper part of which frame forms a support or table It fora tool, such as a die. A second tool, such as a punch, is adapted to be carried by an upper generally rectangularlyshaped cross-head B located above the table IB and operatively connected to a lower generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head C by cylindrical rods II, I2, I3, and I4, the opposite ends of which are detachably connected to the respective cross-heads adjacent to the corners thereof. The lower cross-head C is located within the frame A near the base of the machine and, together with the upper cross-head B and the rods II, I2, I3 and I4, forms the cross-head assembly, which assembly is adapted to be reciprocated vertically by a crankshaft D operatively connected to the lower cross-head C by an adjustable connecting rod or pitman E.

The crankshaft D passes horizontally through the frame A below the table In and above the lower cross-head C, and is supported in the frame by suitable bearings I6 and H which engage portions of the concentric part or parts I8 of the crankshaft. The rear end of the crankshaft D, as the machine is viewed in Fig. 1, is provided with a flywheel and driven pulley 20, see Fig. 3, rotatably supported thereon but adapted to be connected thereto by a clutch F of conventional construction adapted to be actuated by a pedal 2| fixed to a horizontal shaft 22 rotatably supported by the frame A and operatively connected to the clutch by suitable linkage mechanism, designated generally as 23. The actuating mechanism 25 of a brake G, including a brake drum 26 connected to the crankshaft D outside of the clutch F, is operatively connected to the clutch actuating mechanism in such a manner that at all times when the clutch is disengaged, the brake is applied.

The clutch F, the brake G and the operating mechanism therefor may be of any well-known F after the operator has removed his foot from the pedal 2|. The latch 21 may be manually moved out of operative position, in which event the press will not operate automatically. When the press is operating automatically, it can be stopped by depressing the pedal 28 carried by a shaft 29, the other end of which is provided with an arm 30 which raises the latch 21 to release the clutch F when the pedal 28 is depressed. The flywheel and driven pulley 20 is continuously rotated during operation of the press from some convenient power source, such as an electric motor (not shown) with which it is connected by a belt 3|.

The lower cross-head C is guided in its vertical movement by a plurality of cooperating V-ways 32, 33; 34, 35; 36, 37; and 33, 39; the first two of which are on the interior of the front wall of the frame A and the exterior of the front wall of the cross-head C, as viewed in Fig. 1, while the latter two are on the interior of the rear wall of the frame and the exterior of the rear wall of the cross-head. The ways are located to the side of the crankshaft D and the ways on the frame extend well above the lower edge of the concentric portion or portions l8 of the crankshaft. This construction permits the ways, particularly those on the frame, to be made extremely long, thus affording increased guiding surface without increasing the overall height of the press, with the result that the accuracy with which the upper tool is moved is greatly increased. In the particular embodiment shown, the ways on or carried by the frame and which guide the lower crosshea'd C are formed directly on U-shaped members 40 and 4|, the pair of ways on one side of the machine being formed on one member and the pair of ways on the other side being formed on the other member.

The members 40 and 4| are adapted to be fixedly connected to the frame by a plurality of bolts 42, which bolts project through the frame A and have threaded engagement with the members 4B and 4|. The members 40 and 4| are adapted to be adjusted or moved towards or from the interior of the frame by adjusting bolts 43 threaded into tapped holes in the frame A and provided with locknuts for retaining them in any adjusted position. The inner ends of the bolts 43 abut the members 40 and 4|, as indicated in Fig. of the drawings. The construction is such that as the bolts 43 are rotated, the ways on the members 49 and 4| are moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to the interior of the frame A, depending upon the direction of rotation. Alternatively, other means of adjusting the ways inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of the frame may be employed and/or the ways may be formed on individual members so as to permit the individual adjustment of the two ways at either side of the cross-head C.

The members 40 and 4| are U-shaped or have cut-out portions 44 opening into their upper edges, which construction permits the ways to extend above the lower part of the concentric part of the crankshaft D. In order to take full advantage of the increased length of the ways on the interio'rof the frame A, that part of the interior of the frame A directly underneath the cross-head C is unobstructed, permitting the cross-head to travel downwardly to the floor upon which the press is supported, and the upper side of the cross-head is cut out, as at 45, see Fig. 2, to accommodate the crankshaft, permitting the surfaces thereof which engage the ways on the interior of the frame to extend above the lower portion of the concentric part of the shaft.

The adjustable connecting rod or pitrnan E, through the medium of which the lower crosshead C is connected to the crank 46 of the crankshaft D, comprises a heavy screw 4'! threaded into a bearing member 48 through which a short shaft 49 secured in the cross-head C projects. The head 50 of the screw 4! is rotatably secured to the two-part bearing box 5|, which surrounds the crank 46 of the crankshaft D, by a member 52 fixed to the bearing box 5| by screws 5-3. The screw 4'! is provided with a member 54 fixed thereto and having holes for the reception of a spanner wrench for rotating the same to adjust the length of the connecting rod. Members 55 bolted to the bearing member 48 provide means for locking the screw 47 in adjusted position. The shaft 49 is secured in the lower part of the cross-head C and the cross-head has an aperture 56 in the center for the reception of the lower end of the connecting rod E.

When the rods I, l2, l3 and i4 project through the top of the frame A, they are guided by split tapered sleeves 60 slidably supported in tubular members 6| fixed in the frame A. The upper ends of the sections of the tapered sleeves 60 are cylindrical and have threaded engagement with members 62 surrounding the rods and located above the frame A. The construction is such that as the members 62 are rotated, the tapered sleeves 60 are moved within the cylindrical members 6| and by virtue of the cooperating tapered surfaces therebetween, the sections of the sleeves 60, of which there are preferably three, are adjusted inwardly or outwardly with respect to the rods which project therethrough, depending upon the direction of rotation of the members 62. Those portions of the rods I, l2, l3 and I4 between the top of the frame A and the underside of the upper cross-head B are preferably provided with telescopic guides, designated generally as 63, which guides prevent the same from being marred, etc.

The fact that the ways on the inside of the frame A which guide the cross-head C ar V- type permits their adjustment inwardly and outwardly of the interior of the frame without shifting the cross-head assembly out of alignment with other parts of the machine. While in the machine shown, guides have been employed only on two opposite sides of the cross-head, it will be understood that suitable guides may be employed at either or both ends of the lower crosshead, if desired. These guides may be similar to the guides shown. Due to the inherent operating characteristics of crank mechanism such as employed in the present machine considerable side thrust is imposed upon the lower cross-head and, in turn, upon the entire cross-head assembly, but, irrespective of the thrust imposed thereon, the present guiding means prevents any strain whatsoever being placed on the upper cross-head except a direct vertical pull, and thus the tools are maintained in alignment at all times, with the result that their life is greatly increased.

The cross-head assembly, including the upper and lower cross-heads B and C, respectively, and

the rods l2, l3 and I4 connecting the same,

iscounterbalanced by a plurality of springs 10 operatively connected to the frame of the press and to the lower cross-head adjacent the corners of the latter. The springs T0 are interposed between washers H held in position on the upper ends of vertically extending rods 52 by nuts 13 and tubular supporting members 14 bolted to the frame A. The rods l2 project downwardly through the supporting members is and the lower ends thereof are adiustably connected by nuts 16 to bosse Tl formed integral with the lower cross-head C. The nuts Hi may be employed to balance the tension of the springs and to make other necessary adjustments. Removable caps 18 prevent debris from falling into the tubular supporting members M. If the weight of the cross-head assembly is considerable, air cylinders may be substituted for the counterbalance springs shown.

The press, as shown in Fig. l, is provided with chutes 8i! and roll feed mechanism, desi nated generally by the reference character H, located at both ends of the table in. This mechanism is of conventional construction and is pivotally connected to the frame A in such a manner that it can be easily and quickly swung out of the way when setting up the machine. The top rolls are provided with lifting devices actuated by the arms 8! which lift the top rolls just as the rolls are through feeding, thus leaving the metal strip being operated upon free to be governed by the pilots on the tools. The roll feeds are adapted to be operated by an adjustable crank mechanism I connected to the forward end of the crankshaft D, as viewed in Fig. 1. The adjustable crank I provides means for obtaining feeds of different lengths. The roll feeds per se form part of the present invention and, in the interest of clearness, are omitted from the views other than Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and oth-- ers have been accomplished, and that a novel and improved floor-type power punch press of the character referred to has been provided having guiding means of maximum length for the lower cross-head. With the construction shown. it will be readily apparent that no strain whatsoever is placed upon the upper cross-head other than a direct vertical pull and that perfect al gnment between the dies and punches is maintained at all times with the result that the life of the tools is greatly increased.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a cross-head located within said frame near its base, said cross-head having ways on its exterior, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-head, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface of said frame and above said cross-head, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting sa d cross-head and said crankshaft whereby said cross-head is reciprocated upon rotation. of said crankshaft, a plurality of ways on the inside of said frame cooperating with said ways on cross-head for guiding said cross-head. means for effecting relative adjustment between said ways inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways on said frame being lo'cated'to the 'side'of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part thereof, a second crosshead located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, means for connecting said cross-heads whereby they move as a unit.

2. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a dieor the like, a cross-head located within said frame near its base, said cross-head having V-type ways on its exterior, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-head, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below saidupper surface of said frame and above said cross-head, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting said cross-head and said crankshaft whereby said cross-head is reciprocated upon rotation of said crankshaft, a plurality of V-type ways on the inside of said frame cooperating with said ways on said cross-head for guiding said cross-head, means for effecting relative adjustment between said ways inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways on said frame being located to the side of said crankshaft and extendingabove and below the lower edge of the concentric part thereof, a second cross-head located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like for connecting said cross-heads whereby they move as a unit, and means operatively connected to the lower cross-head and to said frame for counterbalancing the weight of said cross-heads.

3. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a cross-head located within said frame near its base, said cross-head having a plurality of V-type ways on opposite sides thereof, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-head, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface thereof and above said cross-head, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting said cross-head and said crankshaft whereby said cross-head is reciprocated upon rotation of said crankshaft, a plurality of ways on opposite sides of the inside of said frame cooperating with said ways on said cross-head for guiding said cross-head, means for effecting relative adjustment between said ways inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said rame, said ways on said frame being located to the side of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part or par-ts thereof, a cross-head located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, and means for operatively conmeeting said cross-heads whereby they move as a unit.

4. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head located, within said frame near its base, said cross-head having a plurality of -ty-pe ways on opposite sides thereof, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-heads, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface thereof and above said cross-head, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting said cross-head and said crankshaft, a plurality of V-type ways on opposite sides of the inside of said frame cooperating with said ways on said cross-head for guiding said cross-head, means for effecting relative adjustment between said ways inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways on said frame being located to the side of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part or parts thereof, a second generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, and means for operatively connecting said cross-heads whereby they move as a unit.

5. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a cross-head located within said frame near its base, said cross-head having ways on a plurality of its sides, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-head, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface thereof and above said cross-head, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting said cross-head and said crankshaft whereby said cross-head is reciprocated upon rotation of said crankshaft, a plurality of ways on the inside of said frame cooperating with said ways on said cross-head for guiding said cross-head, means for effecting relative adjustment between said ways inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways on said frame being located to the side of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part thereof, a second cross-head located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, means for op eratively connecting said cross-heads whereby they move as a unit, and means operatively connected to the lower cross-head adjacent to the corners thereof and to said frame for counterbalancing the weight of said cross-heads.

6. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head located within said frame near its base, said cross-head having ways thereon, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-head, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface thereof and above said cross-head, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting said cross-head and said crankshaft whereby said 7 cross-head is reciprocated upon rotation of said crankshaft, a plurality of ways on the inside of said frame cooperating with said ways on said cross-head for guiding said cross-head, means for effecting relative adjustment between said Ways on said frame inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways being located to the side of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part thereof, a second generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head located above said surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, rods located adjacent to the corners of said crossheads and operatively connecting the same whereby they move as a unit, and adjustable means for supporting said rods where they pass through said frame.

7. In a press of the character referred to. the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head located within said frame near its base, said cross-head having ways on a plurality of its sides, a crankshaft for reciprocating said cross-head, means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface thereof and above said crosshead, a connecting rod operatively connecting said cross-head and said crankshaft whereby said cross-head is reciprocated upon rotation of said crankshaft, a plurality of ways on the inside of said frame for guiding said cross-head, means for effecting relative adjustment between said ways on said frame inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways on said frame being located to the side of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part thereof, a second generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, rods located adjacent to the corners of said cross-heads and projecting through the top of said frame for operatively connecting said cross-heads whereby they move as a unit, adjustable means for supporting said rods where they pass through said frame, and means operatively connected to the lower cross-head adjacent to the corners thereof and to said frame for counterbalancing the weight of said cross-heads.

8. In a press of the character referred to, the combination of a frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and having an upper surface adapted to support a die or the like, a generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head member located within said frame near its base, said cross-head member having ways on a plurality of the sides thereof, a crankshaft for reciprocating said crosshead member, means for operatively supporting said crankshaft in said frame below said upper surface and above said cross-head member, means for rotating said crankshaft, means for operatively connecting said cross-head member and said crankshaft whereby said cross-head member is reciprocated upon rotation of said crankshaft, a plurality of V-shaped ways located at opposite sides of the interior of said frame cooperating with said ways on said cross-head member for guiding said cross-head member, means for adjusting said ways on said frame inwardly and outwardly with respect to the interior of said frame, said ways on said frame being located to the side of said crankshaft and extending above and below the lower edge of the concentric part thereof, a second generally rectangularly-shaped cross-head member located above said upper surface of said frame and adapted to carry a die or the like, rod-like members projecting through the top of said frame and connected to said cross-head members adjacent to the corners thereof whereby they move as a unit, adjustable means for supporting said rods where they pass through said frame, and means operatively connected to the lower crosshead member adjacent to each of the corners thereof and to said frame for counterbalancing the weight of said cross-head members.

FRANK A. BRANDES. 

